The Durban Outer Ring Road is a half
ring road that circles the coastal city of
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
. It consists fully of the
N2 highway which links the
North
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.
Etymology
The word ''north ...
and
South Coasts of
KwaZulu-Natal, with the main link to the city being provided by the
N3.
Route
From north to south, the Outer Ring Road begins from the
M41 Mount Edgecombe interchange between
Mount Edgecombe
Mount Edgecombe or Mt Edgecombe is a gated community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, situated just north of Durban, which forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan area. It is famous for resorts and golf. It includes a retiremen ...
and
uMhlanga as 3×3 wide freeway. In late 2013 construction began to upgrade the M41 and N2 interchange to a full flowing interchange from its prior diamond interchange shape and was completed and opened on the 30 October 2018.
From the M41, the N2 then fans into a 4×4 wide freeway as it begins to circle the urban parts of
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
. The freeway passes
M25 KwaMashu Highway,
M45 Queen Nandi Road including a Petropoort (the only urban freeway petrol station in Durban) and continuing to the massive
M19 Umgeni/
M21 Inanda Road interchange. The interchange is a dual road interchange starting with M21 Inanda Road and linking to the M19 Umgeni Road.
In 2012, due to heavy congestions with the M19 Umgeni Road and the N2
SANRAL
The South African National Roads Agency SOC Ltd or SANRAL is a South African parastatal responsible for the management, maintenance and development of South Africa's proclaimed National Road network which includes many (but not all) National ("N" ...
decided to upgrade the M19 interchange to a semi-free flowing interchange. The project was supposed to have reached completion in May 2014 but delays from local workers and striking has prolonged this, however it was completed and opened on October 2015. Two huge viaduct bridges have been erected for free-flowing traffic for commuters travelling on the M19 West to reach the N2 North, and for the N2 North to reach the M19 West without stopping at signals.
The N2 continues south to reach the
EB Cloete Interchange with the
N3 highway coming from
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Dem ...
. Nicknamed "Spaghetti Junction", this is the only five-stack free-flowing interchange in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
.
Once passing the interchange with the N3, the N2 continues into the southern parts of Durban meeting the terminus of the freeway portion of the
M7 at the Solomon Mahlangu Drive Interchange and continuing southwards passing the
M1 Higginson Highway. The N2 then meets the R102 for the
Umlazi
Umlazi is a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, located south-west of Durban. Organisationally and administratively it forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and its South Municipal Planning Region.
It is the fourth largest ...
off-ramp and would continue with an old
Durban International Airport
Durban International Airport (formerly Louis Botha Airport) was the international airport of Durban from 1951 until 2010, when it was replaced by King Shaka International Airport, to the north. The airport is co-located with AFB Durban.
Hi ...
offramp, however in 2010 the airport was relocated to the north of Durban. The off-ramp still exists but there is no signage or destination route.
The Durban Outer Ring Road ends at the interchange with the
M4, which provides an alternative route to the bypass for commuters who wish to drive through the central parts of the city. The M4 begins in
Ballito
Ballito is an affluent town located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Ballito is about north of Durban. It forms part of the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, and iLembe District Municipality. Dolphins are common on this stretch of the North Coas ...
and passes in a southerly direction along the coast as a parallel alternative to the N2 cutting through the city centre and ending at the N2 at the defunct
Durban International Airport
Durban International Airport (formerly Louis Botha Airport) was the international airport of Durban from 1951 until 2010, when it was replaced by King Shaka International Airport, to the north. The airport is co-located with AFB Durban.
Hi ...
. After the M4 the N2 heads towards
Amanzimtoti
Amanzimtoti is a coastal town just south of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The town is well known for its warm climate and numerous beaches, and is a popular tourist destination, particularly with surfers. The annual sardine run attracts ...
, the highway changes back to 2×2 lanes and over-head urban signage ends as the freeway makes its way to the
South Coast.
See also
*
N2
*
N3
*
Ring Roads in South Africa
There are a number of ring roads found in South Africa.
List Of Ring Roads
See also
* Johannesburg Ring Road
* Cape Town Ring Road
* Durban Ring Road
* Pretoria Ring Road
* Bloemfontein Ring Road
* Polokwane Ring Road
The Polokwa ...
References
{{Coord missing, South Africa
Ring roads in South Africa
Transport in Durban
N2 road (South Africa)